In a troubling revelation for coffee drinkers, Our Family Foods has issued a recall of their Traverse City Cherry Decaffeinated Ground Coffee.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class II recall for nearly 700 cases of “decaffeinated” coffee that actually contains caffeine.
The recall has exposed how unsuspecting consumers are at potential health risks across 15 states.
The FDA announced the recall of Our Family-branded Traverse City Cherry coffee after discovering that it was incorrectly labeled as decaffeinated when it actually contained regular caffeine levels.
The mislabeling affects 4,152 twelve-ounce packages distributed across primarily conservative heartland states, including Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Consumers with certain medical conditions who intentionally purchase decaffeinated products to avoid caffeine’s effects could experience significant health consequences.
Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, pregnancy concerns, or who take medications that interact with caffeine are particularly at risk from this labeling error.
Manufacturer Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA initiated the recall but notably did not issue a public press release about the situation.
The FDA only formally classified it as a Class II recall recently, indicating it could cause “temporary or medically reversible” health consequences.
The agency stated that:
“Too much caffeine can cause a variety of symptoms like increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia or sleep disruptions, anxiety, jitters, upset stomach, nausea, and headache. Talk with your health care professional about your caffeine consumption if you have any of these symptoms.”
This recall highlights an ongoing issue with how the FDA handles product safety announcements.
Rather than alerting consumers through mainstream channels, this information was primarily buried in official bulletins where ordinary shoppers are unlikely to see it.
For Americans concerned about this product, look for Our Family Traverse City Cherry artificially flavored decaf light roast ground coffee with UPC code 0 70253 11080 1 and marked with “BEST BEFORE 080325 V 15:37 C.”
SpartanNash Company distributed this coffee and sold it under the Our Family label across multiple states.
The company’s handling of this situation raises concerns about corporate transparency.
Despite claiming that its “commitment to quality has remained the same, generation after generation,” Our Family Foods provided no immediate response when asked about the recall.
Even more concerning, consumers received no specific instructions on what to do with the recalled product.
The FDA admits that even products marketed as “decaffeinated” still contain some caffeine (typically 2-15 milligrams per cup).
Still, this mislabeled product contains full caffeine content that could seriously impact sensitive individuals.
